Parables

by Torin M. Finser

“One could say that a parable contains a larger lesson in a bite-sized portion. Using other words, a parable is a simple short story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.... The word parable can be traced back to Middle English and Old French origins as parabole and to the ecclesiastical Latin sense of parabola, meaning “discourse, allegory, or comparison.”... Parables use comparison, allegory, imagery, analogy, or a short story to convey a larger meaning.” (from the book) Torin Finser writes that parables involve “looking down” (or out) to find an often-overlooked object, and then “looking up” to the eternal truth that can be brought down to children. How can we do both? Can we teach our children to see not only what is on the desks before them, but also what surrounds them in nature and in circles above them in the starry heavens and beyond? Parables may help us!

68 pages, Paperback

Published July 2, 2018

About the author

Torin M Finser received his Ph.D. in educational leadership from Union Graduate School, his M.A. in education from Adelphi University, and his B.A. from Bowdoin College. He taught at the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School, where he also served as faculty chairman. Torin has done extensive consulting with schools in organizational dynamics and leadership development and has been a keynote speaker at conferences all over the world.

He is the author eleven books, beginning with School as a Journey, which has now been translated into Mandarin, Farsi, Thai, Arabic, Korean and Spanish. Other books include: School Renewal, Organizational Integrity, A Second Classroom, Parent Teacher Relations in a Waldorf School, Leadership Development and Education for Non-Violence. His Guided Self Study is used by many as an introduction to Anthroposophy.

Torin has served as General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in America and Chair of the Education Department at Antioch University New England. A founder of the Center for Anthroposophy, he has recently pioneered their new Building Bridges Program for practicing teachers in independent and charter schools.